Transparent Display Device with Touch Sensor

Abstract

A transparent display device with a touch sensor is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate including a transmissive area and a non-transmissive area; a plurality of subpixels in the non-transmissive area, a subpixel including a light emitting element including an anode electrode, a light emitting layer, and a cathode electrode; a touch sensor in the transmissive area and including a touch sensor electrode in the transmissive area; a first undercut structure between the cathode electrode of the light emitting element and the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor; a signal line between the first undercut structure and the substrate; and an etch stop layer between the signal line and the first undercut structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transparent display device comprising:
 a substrate including a transmissive area and a non-transmissive area that is less transmissive of external light than the transmissive area;   a plurality of subpixels in the non-transmissive area, a subpixel from the plurality of subpixels including a light emitting element that comprises an anode electrode, a light emitting layer on the anode electrode, and a cathode electrode on the light emitting layer;   a touch sensor in the transmissive area, the touch sensor including a touch sensor electrode in the transmissive area;   a first undercut structure between the cathode electrode of the light emitting element and the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor such that the cathode electrode is disconnected from the touch sensor electrode;   a signal line between the first undercut structure and the substrate; and   an etch stop layer between the signal line and the first undercut structure.   
     
     
         2 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode electrode and the touch sensor electrode are on a same layer and separated from each other by the first undercut structure. 
     
     
         3 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first undercut structure has a closed shape in a plane view of the transmissive area. 
     
     
         4 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first undercut structure includes:
 a plurality of inorganic patterns including a first opening area at a first side of the plurality of inorganic patterns;   an organic pattern over the plurality of inorganic patterns and a first portion of the organic pattern extending past a first end of the plurality of inorganic patterns and at least partially overlaps the first opening area; and   an undercut in a first area where the first portion of the organic pattern and the first opening area overlap each other,   wherein the etch stop layer at least partially overlaps the undercut.   
     
     
         5 . The transparent display device of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a buffer film between the plurality of inorganic patterns and the signal line,   wherein the etch stop layer contacts an upper surface of the buffer film that is overlapped by the first opening area.   
     
     
         6 . The transparent display device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of inorganic patterns further include a second opening area at a second side of the plurality of inorganic patterns,
 wherein the first opening area is between the plurality of inorganic patterns and the touch sensor and the second opening area is between the plurality of inorganic patterns and the plurality of subpixels,   wherein a second portion of the organic pattern extends past a second end of the plurality of inorganic patterns and at least partially overlaps the second opening area, and the undercut is a second area where the second portion of the organic pattern and the second opening area overlap.   
     
     
         7 . The transparent display device of  claim 6 , wherein the etch stop layer at least partially overlaps the first opening area and the second opening area. 
     
     
         8 . The transparent display device of  claim 6 , wherein the signal line overlaps the first opening area and the second opening area. 
     
     
         9 . The transparent display device of  claim 6 , wherein the etch stop layer, the signal line, and the touch sensor electrode overlap each other. 
     
     
         10 . The transparent display device of  claim 6 , wherein the etch stop layer includes a first etch stop layer at least partially overlapping the first opening area and a second etch stop layer at least partially overlapping the second opening area. 
     
     
         11 . The transparent display device of  claim 10 , wherein the first etch stop layer is in contact with the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor in at least a portion of the first opening area, and the second etch stop layer is in contact with the cathode electrode of the light emitting element in at least a portion of the second opening area. 
     
     
         12 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of subpixels further comprises:
 a driving transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; and   wherein the etch stop layer comprises a same material and is on a same layer as the active layer of the driving transistor.   
     
     
         13 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein the etch stop layer includes a conductorized silicon-based semiconductor material or a conductorized oxide-based semiconductor material. 
     
     
         14 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , wherein the etch stop layer includes a transparent conductive material. 
     
     
         15 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a touch line in the non-transmissive area,   wherein the signal line includes a touch bridge line electrically connecting the touch line and the touch sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The transparent display device of  claim 15 , wherein the touch bridge line is connected to the touch line in the non-transmissive area, and extends across the first undercut structure to an area that overlaps the touch sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensing transistor overlapping the touch sensor, the sensing transistor configured to sense a voltage of the touch sensor;   a sensing line in the non-transmissive area; and   a scan line in the non-transmissive area, the scan line configured to supply a scan signal,   wherein the signal line includes a sensing bridge line connecting the sensing transistor and the sensing line, and a scan bridge line connecting the sensing transistor and the scan line.   
     
     
         18 . The transparent display device of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing transistor is turned on responsive to the scan signal and transfers a voltage of the touch sensor, to the sensing line through the sensing bridge line. 
     
     
         19 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a driving transistor provided in the subpixel from the plurality of subpixels; and   a light shielding layer between the substrate and the driving transistor,   wherein the signal line is on a same layer as the light shielding layer.   
     
     
         20 . The transparent display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a touch line in the non-transmissive area;   a touch connection portion connecting the touch line and the touch sensor; and   a sensing transistor overlapping the touch sensor, the sensing transistor configured to sense a voltage of the touch sensor,   wherein the sensing transistor is electrically connected to the touch sensor through the touch connection portion.   
     
     
         21 . The transparent display device of  claim 20 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a resistance line comprising a silicon-based semiconductor material or an oxide-based semiconductor material. 
     
     
         22 . The transparent display device of  claim 20 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a touch contact electrode connected to the touch sensor electrode in the transmissive area. 
     
     
         23 . The transparent display device of  claim 22 , wherein the touch sensor electrode is in contact with an upper surface of the touch contact electrode that is overlapped by a second undercut structure. 
     
     
         24 . A transparent display device comprising:
 a substrate including a transmissive area and a non-transmissive area that is less transmissive of external light than the transmissive area;   a plurality of insulating layers in the non-transmissive area and the transmissive area, the plurality of insulating layers including an opening in the non-transmissive area;   a light emitting element on the plurality of insulating layers in the non-transmissive area, the light emitting element including an anode electrode, an organic light emitting layer on the anode electrode, and a cathode electrode on the organic light emitting layer, the cathode electrode extending from the non-transmissive area to the opening in the plurality of insulating layers in the non-transmissive area;   a touch sensor including a touch sensor electrode that is on the plurality of insulating layers in the transmissive area, the touch sensor electrode extending to the opening in the plurality of insulating layers in the non-transmissive area;   an etch stop layer in the opening;   an undercut structure at least partially on the etch stop layer in the opening, the undercut structure separating the touch sensor electrode in the opening from the cathode electrode in the opening; and   a signal line that is between the etch stop layer and the substrate and at least partially overlaps the opening.   
     
     
         25 . The transparent display device of  claim 24 , wherein the undercut structure includes:
 a plurality of inorganic patterns in the opening, the plurality of inorganic patterns having a first width;   an organic pattern over the plurality of inorganic patterns, the organic pattern having a second width that is wider than the first width such that ends of the organic pattern extend past ends of the plurality of inorganic patterns,   wherein the etch stop layer at least partially overlaps the ends of the organic pattern that extend past the ends of the plurality of inorganic patterns.   
     
     
         26 . The transparent display device of  claim 25 , wherein the opening comprises a first opening at a first side of the plurality of inorganic patterns and a second opening at a second side of the plurality of inorganic patterns, and the etch stop layer overlaps at least one of the first opening or the second opening. 
     
     
         27 . The transparent display device of  claim 26 , wherein the signal line overlaps at least one of the first opening or the second opening. 
     
     
         28 . The transparent display device of  claim 24 , wherein the touch sensor electrode and the cathode electrode contact the etch stop layer in the opening. 
     
     
         29 . The transparent display device of  claim 24 , wherein the etch stop layer contacts the signal line. 
     
     
         30 . The transparent display device of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a sensing transistor overlapping the touch sensor, the sensing transistor configured to sense a voltage of the touch sensor;   a sensing line in the non-transmissive area; and   a scan line in the non-transmissive area, the scan line configured to supply a scan signal,   wherein the signal line includes a sensing bridge line connecting the sensing transistor and the sensing line, and a scan bridge line connecting the sensing transistor and the scan line,   wherein the sensing transistor is turned on responsive to the scan signal and transfers a voltage of the touch sensor, to the sensing line through the sensing bridge line.